SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Sept. 5, 2013) – Several businesses on Guam are interested in expanding their operations to the commonwealth, but are hesitant to do so because of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Constitution’s Article XII, according to Gerald S. A. Perez, chairman of the board of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.

Section 1 of Article XII states: "The acquisition of permanent and long-term interests in real property within the Commonwealth shall be restricted to persons of Northern Marianas descent."

Perez told the Saipan Chamber of Commerce at the Fiesta Resort & Spa yesterday that Saipan chamber president Alex Sablan’s recent presentation on Guam about the CNMI stirred interest among Guam businesspersons.

But, Perez added, the excitement was short-lived due to Article XII which he described as a "drag and anchor holding back any...

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Sept. 4, 2013) – The incoming chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, Christopher Loeak, has told Pacific leaders he would drown in the rising sea levels rather than being forced to move from his Marshall Islands home.

The 44th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting has opened, with leaders welcomed in an abbreviated ceremony, after unseasonably rough weather forced organisers to abandon plans for their arrival on a fleet of traditional Micronesian outrigger canoes.

The weather difficulties were seen to fit in well with the theme for this year’s Forum, 'Marshalling the Pacific Response to the Climate Challenge.'

Mr. Loeak said while his country was among those already experiencing climate change, the people of the Pacific did not want to flee their lands no matter how threatened they became.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Sept. 4, 2013) – The United Front for a Democratic Fiji says New Zealand has capitulated to Fiji’s military regime over its constitution and that sends out dangerous signals to Pacific Island countries.

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand views the constitution as a positive step towards elections even if it’s not perfect.

A spokesperson for the grouping of political parties, Mick Beddoes, says front members are astonished at Mr. Key’s comments and what they see as a shift in policy towards appeasement.

"The kitchen’s too hot for him so he’s wanting to get out of the kitchen really isn’t he? And no doubt the regime is celebrating as we will no doubt know. They’ve actually managed to outwit the New Zealand prime minister."

Mick Beddoes says New Zealand and Australia are ignoring the plight of the people of...

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Sept. 4, 2013) – In Samoa, the principal of Safa’atoa Primary School, Fale Fetu, yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge of assault in relation to an incident where she ordered a student’s head to be pushed down the toilet.

Appearing before Her Honour, Judge Mata Tuatagaloa in the District Court, Fetu admitted assaulting the student.

The 51-year-old from Tafagamanu Lefaga is charged with two counts of assault.

Yesterday, she pleaded guilty to assaulting a student by the name of Visesio Tanielu, of Safaatoa Lefaga, on the 15th August 2013.

She entered a not guilty plea for assaulting another student by the name of Allen Tavita, of the same village on the same date.

The matter is now adjourned until next year, for sentencing on the first charge and for a hearing on the second charge.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Sept. 4, 2013) – The Wewak District Court in Papua New Guinea may have erred in law by sentencing a man yesterday to 12 months imprisonment for practising sorcery.

The Sorcery Act 1971 was repealed in its entirety when National Parliament passed amendments to the criminal Code Act in the June session.

But East Sepik police went ahead and arrested and charged Mailon Kenya, 35 of Bogia during the recent Angoram by-election in East Sepik.

Police alleged that on September 2, 2013 at Angoram market the accused had without lawful excuse in his possession implements intended for use in an act of forbidden sorcery, thereby contravening Section 11 (b) of the Sorcery Act 1971.

It was alleged that between 10 and 11 am at Angoram market, reliable information received by police deployed to the Angoram Open by-election that the...

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Sept. 4, 2013) – A survey undertaken by the Economic and Social Rights Research and Advocacy project – Advocacy and Legal Advise Centre (ALAC) - with support from the United Nations Development Program on the use and effectiveness of the Primary School Education Grant Policy in Vanuatu from 2010 – 2012, revealed that schools have little understanding of the true scope of school grant policy.

The project targeted different areas in three provinces of Vanuatu.

For Shefa the project targeted Port Vila, North Efate, Nguna and Emao.

In Penama the project looked at Pentecost; and for Torba, the islands of Mota Lava and Vanua Lava.

The focus was to investigate the use and effectiveness of the Primary School Education Grant policy on children’s education.

The survey teams undertook the survey in 41 schools, both government and...

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Sept. 5, 2013) – After several earlier versions of the budget, Guam's lawmakers yesterday voted again, this time unanimously, on what could be the government's spending law for fiscal 2014.

The legislation now moves to Gov. Eddie Calvo's desk.

The governor's communications director, Troy Torres, said the budget "contains a lot of pet projects and spending that we don't agree with."

"The Republican senators and the administration understand very well that if this impasse didn't break, we were headed for a new fiscal year without a new budget," Torres said.

"So, we'll take a close look at this budget bill," Torres said, adding later: "And if push comes to shove, the governor has the authority to line-item-veto appropriations."

The budget bill includes provisions addressing government spending on health care,...

Guam Officer’s Federal Testimony Used In Blue House Case Manila admitted in 2011 to having sex at the lounge weekly

By Gina Tabonares-Reilly

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, Sept. 5, 2013) – Guam Police Department officer David Q. Manila, one of the policemen on trial in connection with the prostitution, kidnapping and rape case at the Blue House lounge, couldn’t help but squint his eyes as the prosecutor and a government witness read his previous testimony admitting he had sex with girls inside Blue House.

"I bought her two drinks, we started kissing, and one thing led to another," the policeman was quoted as saying when he testified before the federal court against Blue House owner Song Ja Cha.

Cha, who was convicted in federal court and was sentenced to life imprisonment, was indicted again along with Manila and two other policemen – Anthony Quenga and Mario Laxamana.

Two other Blue House workers, Freda Eseun and Saknin Weria, were also...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.